Have you been harmed by your gambling?
Gambling can have a damaging impact on people’s lives. Many people can gamble without any serious negative consequences, but for some people, gambling can be harmful.
It can be confronting to think about how gambling is affecting your life, but it’s important to do so. If you recognise how gambling is affecting you and your family, you can work out what to do next.
Has your family member or friend been harmed by their gambling?
Gambling can have a damaging impact on people’s lives. Many people can gamble without any serious negative consequences, but for some people, gambling can be harmful.
It’s important to ask yourself whether the gambling of a family member or friend is causing them harm in their lives. People who are struggling with their gambling often feel ashamed or guilty, which makes it hard for them to talk about their gambling. They’re more likely to talk openly and honestly if they feel like someone understands what they’re going through. If you can talk to them honestly, you can come up with a plan together about what to do next.
Has someone been harmed by their gambling?
Gambling can have a damaging impact on people’s lives. Many people can gamble without any serious negative consequences, but for some people, gambling can be harmful.
People who are struggling with their gambling often feel ashamed or guilty, which makes it hard for them to talk about their gambling. They’re more likely to talk openly and honestly if they feel like someone understands what they’re going through. As a professional, you can acknowledge the harmful effects of gambling for the person you’re working with, which can help to normalise their experience and provide a less intimidating way to encourage them to start thinking about making changes to their gambling.
What is gambling harm?
Gambling-related harm is defined as:
Any initial or exacerbated adverse consequence due to an engagement with gambling that leads to a reduction in the health or wellbeing of an individual, family unit, community or population.
The most recent national gambling survey shows that about 9% of Australian adults have experienced at least one gambling-related harm in the previous year, which is about 1 in 5 people who gamble.
The harms from gambling can vary from person to person. Some people might not be affected at all, while others might experience severe harm. Sometimes, people gamble until they reach a crisis point, which is when they usually start to think about making changes or getting help. These are called crisis harms.
Serious harm caused by gambling can have a long-lasting impact that affects future generations. These are known as legacy harms. For example, if a parent loses a lot of money gambling, their children might be affected by poverty for a long time. People who grow up with an adult in their home who has an issue with their gambling are also more likely to develop harmful gambling. When parents gamble and spend a lot of time away from their families, their children may feel neglected and may have trouble forming strong bonds with their parents, which can make them more likely to develop gambling problems in the future. This means that harms can continue to occur, or emerge, even after a person gets their gambling under control. This can be hard for people who gamble because family members and friends may find out about the gambling at the same time as they are seeking help or getting their gambling under control.
Gambling doesn’t only impact the person who gambles. It can also harm their family members or friends, who typically provide support to their loved one. See our section on Harms to Family Members and Friends.
What harms can gambling cause?
When you think about the negative effects of gambling, you might first think about financial problems or relationship difficulties. However, gambling can affect almost every part of a person’s life. A recent paper Conceptual Framework of Gambling Related Harm outlines seven domains of harm that can be caused by gambling. In this framework, financial harms, relationship problems, and emotional difficulties are the most common harms, but people with gambling issues can also experience harm to their health, cultural practices, and their performance at work or school. Some people might also experience other harms, such as committing crimes, not taking care of their children properly, driving in an unsafe way, or being aggressive towards others
Take a look at some of the harms reported by people with gambling issues.
Financial harm
When people have issues with their gambling, the most common harms they experience are financial impacts. These harms can have an immediate and significant effect on their lives and can cause other harms as well. Financial problems are usually what make people decide to change their gambling or seek help. Even after they get their gambling under control, financial harms can have a long-term impact on their lives. See our information on Managing Money and Resolving Financial Challenges for help with the financial harms caused by gambling.
Some common financial harms reported by people with gambling issues include:
- Reduced savings
- Reduced available spending money
- Increased credit card and personal debt
- Selling personal items
- Taking on additional employment
- Being late for payments on bills – like electricity, gas and rates
- Reduced spending on recreational activities – like eating out, going to movies, or other entertainment
- Reduced spending on beneficial expenses – like insurances, education, car and home maintenance
- Reduced spending on essential expenses – like medications, healthcare and food
Some more severe financial harms include:
- Loss of significant assets
- Disconnection of utilities – like electricity or gas
- Needing help from welfare organisations – such as foodbanks or emergency bill payments
- Bankruptcy
- Needing emergency or temporary accommodation
Relationship disruption, conflict or breakdown
One of the most common types of harm caused by gambling is damage to relationships. People who gamble can experience problems with their family and friends because they neglect their responsibilities, argue or fight with loved ones, or even end their relationships. This harm often happens because of the financial problems caused by gambling, but it can also be because the person spends too much time gambling. Relationship problems can continue even after the person has their gambling under control, and they’re a common reason why people seek help or support. See our information on Rebuilding Relationships for help with relationship harms caused by gambling.
Some common relationship harms reported by people with gambling issues include:
- Spending less time with the people they care about
- Getting less enjoyment from the time they spend with the people they care about
- Neglecting their relationship responsibilities
- Spending less time attending social events
- Having greater tension in their relationships – like suspicion, lying or resentment
- Having greater conflict in their relationships – like arguing, fighting or ultimatums
- Feeling belittled in their relationships
Some more severe relationship harms include:
- Threat of separation or ending a relationship
- Actual separation or ending a relationship
- Feeling excluded or shut-off from others
Emotional or psychological distress
People who are experiencing harm from gambling often report feeling upset or distressed. They may feel like they don’t have control over their gambling or feel insecure and unsafe. Shame and stigma are also common feelings experienced by people with harmful gambling. There is a strong link between gambling and mental health issues – see our section on Gambling and Mental Health Issues.
Some common emotional harms reported by people with gambling issues include:
- Feeling distressed about their gambling
- Feeling ashamed of their gambling
- Feeling like a failure
- Feeling insecure or vulnerable
- Feeling angry about not controlling their gambling
- Feeling worthless
Some more severe emotional harms include:
- Feelings of hopelessness about their gambling
- Feelings of extreme distress
- Thoughts of running away or escape
Health problems
Gambling can have negative effects on a person's health. This is because people with gambling issues may not have enough money to take care of their health needs. As a result, they may develop health problems that continue even after they get control over their gambling.
Common health harms reported by people with gambling issues include:
- Reduced physical activity due to their gambling
- Stress-related health problems – like high blood pressure or headaches
- Losing sleep due to spending time gambling
- Losing sleep due to stress or worry about their gambling or gambling-related problems
- Neglecting their hygiene and self-care
- Neglecting their medical needs – including failing to take prescribed medications
- Not eating as much or as often as they should
- Eating too much
- Increasing their smoking
- Increasing their drinking
Some more severe health harms include:
- Developing depression
- Experiencing family violence related to gambling
- Increasing their use of health or emergency services due to health issues caused or worsened by their gambling
- Self-harming
- Living in unhygienic living conditions – like living rough or in neglected or unclean housing
- Attempting suicide
Cultural harm
Cultural harm often occurs with relationship harms because of the link between family and culture.
Some cultural harms reported by people with gambling issues include:
- Reduced participation in cultural rituals
- Experiencing culturally based shame in relation to their cultural roles and expectations
- Reduced contribution to their community and cultural practices
- Reduced connection to their cultural community
- Feeling excluded or shut out from their cultural community.
Work or study harms
Work or study harms are consistent for people who are in paid employment, studying, or undertaking volunteer work. They are generally caused by other gambling harms. For example, a person might be tired and distracted at work or study as a result of gambling-related emotional or psychological distress.
Some common work or study harms reported by people with gambling issues include:
- Reduced performance at work or study due to tiredness or distraction
- Being late for work or study
- Being absent from work or study
- Hindering their job-seeking efforts
- Using their work or study time to attend to issues caused by their gambling
- Using their work or study resources to help with matters arising from their gambling
- Less availability for additional commitments
- Less progression in their job or study
- Conflict with their workmates
Some more severe work or study harms include:
- Losing their job
- Being excluded from their study
Other harms
Some people might experience other negative effects from their gambling, including:
- Neglecting their children
- Petty theft, including taking money or items from friends or family without asking first
- Committing a criminal act to fund their gambling or pay debts – like stealing, trafficking or selling drugs, dishonestly claiming government payments, sex work or dealing in stolen goods
- Being arrested for unsafe driving
- Being violent – including domestic or family violence
“Over a period of time it had become a routine to go and gamble after work. On top of the financial impact, it had also pulled me away from spending quality time with my son and hobbies that I used to love.” – Audrey
How do you know if you’ve been harmed by gambling?
It can be quick and easy to find out if you’ve been harmed by your gambling. Try the Short Gambling Harm Screen to work out if gambling is causing you harm.
In the last year, have you experienced any of the following issues as a result of your gambling?
- Reduction of my available spending money
- Less spending on recreational expenses – like eating out, going to movies or other entertainment
- Reduction of my savings
- Sold personal items
- Increased credit card debt
- Had regrets that made me feel sorry about my gambling
- Felt like a failure
- Felt ashamed of my gambling
- Felt distressed about my gambling
- Spent less time with people I care about
If you’ve noticed any of these harms within the past year, it could be a sign that gambling is causing negative effects on your life. However, it's also possible that you're experiencing other harms from your gambling that aren’t listed here.
We understand that the harms from gambling can get worse as issues with gambling continue, but remember that you don’t have to wait for things to get bad before reaching out for help. No matter what kind or how severe the harm is, it’s a good idea to take action and seek support to address the issues caused by gambling. There are practical steps you can take and support available to help you deal with these harms.
Do you want more help?
To find out more about harms from your gambling, you can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members or friends.
How do you know if a family member or friend has been harmed by their gambling?
It can be quick and easy to find out if a family member or friend has been harmed by their gambling. Try the Short Gambling Harm Screen to work out if gambling is causing them harm.
In the last year, has your family member or friend experienced any of the following issues as a result of their gambling?
- Reduction of their available spending money
- Less spending on recreational expenses – like eating out, going to movies or other entertainment
- Reduction of their savings
- Sold personal items
- Increased credit card debt
- Had regrets that made them feel sorry about their gambling
- Felt like a failure
- Felt ashamed of their gambling
- Felt distressed about their gambling
- Spent less time with people they care about
If you’ve noticed any of these harms within the past year, it could be a sign that gambling is causing negative effects on your family member or friend’s life. However, it's also possible that they’re experiencing other harms from their gambling that aren’t listed here.
It’s understandable if you don’t have all the answers to these questions. If your family member or friend is willing, you can suggest that they take the Short Gambling Harm Screen themselves. They don’t have to share their answers with you, but it may help them recognise the negative effects gambling is having on their life.
We know that the harms from gambling can become more serious as gambling issues progress, but things don’t have to get bad before they reach out for help. No matter what kind or how severe the harm is, encourage them to take action and seek support to address the harms caused by gambling.
Do you want more help?
To find out more about harms from gambling, you or your family member or friend can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members or friends like you. It’s not only the person who gambles that can be affected, but the people close to them too. It’s important to take care of yourself when you’re supporting someone else. Check out the family and friends section in our peer support community to connect with people who understand.
How do you know if someone has been harmed by their gambling?
It can be quick and easy to find out if the person you’re supporting has been harmed by their gambling. If the person you’re supporting is willing, they can try the Short Gambling Harm Screen to work out if gambling is causing them harm. They don’t have to share their answers with you, but it may help them recognise the negative effects gambling is having on their life.
In the last year, has this person experienced any of the following issues as a result of their gambling?
- Reduction of their available spending money
- Less spending on recreational expenses – like eating out, going to movies or other entertainment
- Reduction of their savings
- Sold personal items
- Increased credit card debt
- Had regrets that made them feel sorry about their gambling
- Felt like a failure
- Felt ashamed of their gambling
- Felt distressed about their gambling
- Spent less time with people they care about
If they’ve noticed any of these harms within the past year, it could be a sign that gambling is causing negative effects on their life. However, it's also possible that they’re experiencing other harms from their gambling that aren’t listed here.
As a professional working with people with gambling harms, it's important to understand that the negative effects of gambling can escalate as the issue progresses. Let the person you’re working with know that they don't have to wait for things to get worse before seeking help. No matter what kind or how severe the harm is, it's important to encourage them to take action and seek support to address the harms caused by gambling.
As a professional, you may be in a good position to educate the person about the harmful effects of gambling, assess the severity of the gambling issue using our Quiz, provide practical steps they can take to help themselves, and connect them to gambling support services. See our section on How Professionals can Help for some specific ways you can help. With your support and guidance, they can reduce the harms caused by their gambling.
Do you want more help?
To find out more about harms from gambling, you or the person you’re working with can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members, friends, and professionals like you. It can be hard for professionals to support people with gambling issues. To learn more about how you can help, go to our section on How Professionals can Help.
